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| ▲ This photo, provided by the Korea Heritage Service, shows Jongmyo Daeje held in 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea’s most solemn royal ancestral rite, "Jongmyo Daeje," will be held on the first Sunday of May this year, with expanded viewing options to allow more people to take part.
According to the Korea Heritage Service and related agencies on Thursday, the ceremony will take place May 3 at Jongmyo Shrine, including its Yeongnyeongjeon Hall and the main hall.
Jongmyo is the state shrine that enshrines memorial tablets of kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire.
"Jongmyo Daeje," the royal ancestral rite performed at the shrine, was the largest and most important state ritual conducted by the king. Restored in 1969, it has continued to this day.
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| ▲ In this file photo, officials participate in an annual royal ancestral ritual at Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul on May 4, 2025, known as "Jongmyo Daeje." The ritual honors the past kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). (Pool photo) (Yonhap) |
Recognized for its comprehensive combination of royal rituals, music and dance, it was inscribed in 2001 on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list under the official name "Jongmyo Jerye and Jongmyo Jeryeak."
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at Yeongnyeongjeon Hall, followed by the main ritual at 2 p.m. at the shrine’s central hall, with Korea Heritage Service Administrator Huh Min and other officials in attendance.
Ritual procedures will include the offering of incense and silk, food offerings, and a sequence of ceremonial libations.
While about 700 spectators attended last year through advance reservations and on-site registration, organizers plan to increase capacity this year.
A total of 1,350 seats will be arranged inside for officials and invited guests, while about 500 additional seats with large screens will be set up outside the main hall.
Large screens will also be installed at major tourist sites, including the square in front of Heungnyemun Gate at Gyeongbokgung Palace, allowing more visitors to watch the ceremony.
Authorities are also considering live broadcasts via KTV and YouTube, as well as promotional videos on electronic billboards in areas such as Gwanghwamun and Myeongdong.
Ahead of the main event, a series of preliminary programs will be held, including nighttime performances of "Jongmyo Jeryeak," the royal court music performed during the rites, featuring instrumental music, dance and song.
The performances will run at 8 p.m. from April 28 to 30 at Jongmyo’s main hall, following a rehearsal on April 26.
Additional events include performances and hands-on programs based on "Myohyeonrye," a Joseon-era rite in which newly married queens or crown princesses paid respects at Jongmyo, scheduled for April 25 to 27.
The Jongmyo management office will also host an online photo contest from March 23 to April 5, inviting submissions featuring the shrine’s architecture and scenery.
Huh said the expanded program aims to share the value of Jongmyo -- Korea’s first UNESCO World Heritage site -- with the public, while preserving both its tangible and intangible heritage.
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